UNICYSTIC AMELOBLASTOMA OF THE MANDIBLE - A LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Purpose: This article presents the long-term results of treatment for a series of unicystic ameloblastoma of the mandible, Patients and Meth ods: Twenty-one patients were seen within a 15-year period, The median age at onset of symptoms was 18 years, with a median delay before pre sentation of 4 years. The male/female ratio was 1.3:1., Treatment was enucleation with primary closure in 11 patients (52.4%) whose lesions were in the horizontal body of the mandible, Five patients (23.8%) had excision of the lesion and the encompassing dentoalveolar process wit h preservation of the lower border of the mandible. Because the diseas e involved the ascending ramus of the mandible in five patients (23.8% ), full-thickness resection of the affected mandible was done, Results : There were three recurrences: Two in patients managed with enucleati on and one in a patient who had resection of the lesion with preservat ion of the lower border of the mandible, Conclusion: The findings show that unicystic ameloblastoma often can be treated successfully with l ess aggressive surgery than that needed for multicystic ameloblastoma.